Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania hopes the upcoming 8/11 date on the calendar will serve as a reminder for homeowners and contractors to call 811 or visit PAOneCall.org at least three business days before any digging project to have underground utility lines marked.

Contacting 811 is free for homeowners. When they call they are connected to Pennsylvania One Call, which notifies the appropriate utility companies to mark the approximate location of underground utilities lines with either flags or a special spray paint.

Even when digging only a few inches or digging in a previously marked location, utility lines need to be properly marked because the depth of the lines can vary for reasons such as erosion, previous digging projects and uneven surfaces.